Vacuum cleaner



T. E. D. BILDE VACUUM CLEANER March 17, 1936.

Filed D80. 15, 1932 INVENTOR 7 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1936 VACUUM CLEANER Tord Erik Daniel Bilde. Stockholm. Sweden, as-

signor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 15, 1932, Serial bio. 647,345 In Germany June 16, 1932 7 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and the object is to provide a device for indicating the condition of the dust separating member.

The invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention in preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view. on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device shownin Fig. 1;

and 1 Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the portion shown in Fig. 2, looking from the left in Fig. 2

Referring to the drawing, reference character ill designates a container constitutingthe lower portion of a dust receiver. The container is preferably cylindrical and made of rigid impervious material, such as sheet metal. The upper part of container I0 is formed with an outwardly extending flange H and an upwardly extending rim l2. An air inlet connection I3 is made integral with or secured to the side of container l0 approximately half way between the top and bottom of the member. A flexible hose I4 is adapted to be secured to connection I 3. The hose leads from any suitable cleaning implement 15.

The top of the dust receiver comprises an annular ring l6 provided with a packing l1. Packing I1 is adapted to rest on flange H and to flt snugly within rim I2. The inner edge of ring i6 is formed as a flange l8 to which is secured a dust separating member l9 made of suitable cloth or the like which is pervious with respect to air but prevents the passage therethrough of dust and dirt particles. Dust separating member 13 may be secured to flange l8 by means of a string or cord 20.

A circillar plate 2| formed with a downwardly extending flange 22 is adapted to be placed on packing I! and to hold the packing and plate I6 in place. The more central part of plate 2| is formed as the lower wall of a centrifugal fan chamber 23 and is provided with an inlet opening 24 which establishes communication between the space above dust separating member l9 and the fan chamber. A member 25 constitutes the upper wall of the fan chamber and serves as a support for an ordinary electric motor 26, which is suitably secured thereto. The armature shaft 21 of the electric motor carries a rotor 28, which rotates within fan chamber 23. Member 25 is provided with a more or less central opening 29 55 through which extends shaft 21. The motor is enclosed in a casing 30. A convolute 40, formed A by members 2| and 25 serves as an exhaustconduit for the fan and opens to the atmosphere.

Member I 0 is provided with an air-tight window 3| situated above inlet connection l3. Arranged within member I ll adjacent to window 3| is a box- 5 like structure 32 formed with a slot 33 in the lower part thereof. A spindle 34 is supported within box-like structure 32. A signal 35 is rotatably mounted on spindle 34. Signal 35 comprises a bell crank lever, one arm 36 of which is provided 10 with a disc or like member 31 which is distinctively marked, either by being colored or by bearing a legend. The other arm 38 of the bell crank lever extends through slot 33 and is provided with a vane 39 disposed in front of the inlet opening 1 l3. Signal 35 is so balanced that, when free from outside influences, it is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, that is, with plate 31 visible through window 3| and arm 38 in a substantially vertical position. 20 In operation, rotation of the fan rotor 28 causes air to be drawn in through implement I5, hose l4 and inlet connection l3 into the interior of easing In. If the implement I5 is passed over a dusty surface, dust and dirt will be drawn in with this air. The air entering through inlet connection l3 has a comparatively highvelocity .and is directed against vane 39 and causes the bell crank lever 36 to be. rotated in a counterclockwise direction about spindle 34. This causes 3 disc 3'! to take the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, whereby the distinctive coloring or legend carried by the disc is not visible through the window 3|.

The velocity of the air is reduced when it enters 35 dust receiver l0 and much of the dust is deposited in the bottom of the receiver. However, some of the dust passes along with the air upwardly through the receiver and is stopped by the dust separating member l9, while the air passes. through the member and through opening 24 into the fan chamber. .The air is discharged from' the fan chamber through the convolute 40 to a. suitable discharge opening.

Afterthe vacuum cleaner has been operated fora greater or lesser length of time, sufficient dust accumulates in the receiver so that much dust is at alietimes in agitation therein and is drawn up against the dust separating member I9. This interferes with the passage of air through the dust separating member and this increase in the resistance to flow of air reduces the velocity with which the air is drawn into the receiver through the inlet connection l3. This in before pointed out, this plate may be brightly colored or. bear a legend such as the word "FulP. When the operator perceives the indication mark through the window 3|, it indicates to him that sufllcient dust has accumulated within the receiver so that it should be emptied. 1

In order to empty the dust from receiver III it is only necessary to remove the motor and fan assembly, whereupon ring it and dust separating member l9 may be lifted oi! the lower portion. The lower member, may then be turned over and the dustdeposited in any suitable place. It is also advisable to shake the dust separating member I9 and tap the upper side 01' it to dislodge any dirt adhering to the lower side.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is for" the purpose oi illustration only and that many modifications thereof fall within its scope, which is to be determined by the appended claims viewed in the light of the prior art. It will be obvious that my novel indicator is applicable to other types of vacuum cleaners than that disclosed.

.What I claim is:

1. The combination with a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing forming a dust receiver having an air inlet opening and a pervious dust'separating member and means for producing flow 01' air through said receiver, oi a signal, and means for operating said signal comprising a member pivotedwithin said casing, one end oi! the pivoted member being'adiacent to said inlet opening so asto be in the path of air passing therethrough whereby said pivoted member is adapted to be moved bythe current of air.

2. The combination with v a vacuum cleaner ,1 comprising a dust receiverhaving an air inlet opening and a pervious dust separating member and means for producing flow of air through said ing therethrough and the other end of said signal being disposed so as to be visible through said v window.

3. Thecombinationwith a vacuum cleaner comprising a dust receiver having an'air inlet opening and a pervious dust separating member and means for producing flow of air through said receiver, of means for indicating the condition of said dust separating member comprising an air- ,tight window in'said receiver, and a signal pivoted within said receiver, one end of said signal being disposed adjacent to said inlet opening so as to be in the path of air passing therethrough and the other end 01' said signal being provided with a distinctively marked plate disposed so as to be visible through said window.

' signal being'provided with a distinctively marked plate disposed so as to be visible through said window.

5. The combination with a vacuum cleaner comprising a dust receiver having an air inlet opening and a pervious dust separating member and means for producingflow of air through said receiver, 01 means for indicating thecondition of said dust separating member comprising a boxlike structure secured to the side oi said receiver, an air-tight window in said receiver arranged to make visible the interior of said structure, a signal pivoted within said structure and having two arms, the bottom of saidstructure being formed with a slot and one of said arms extending through said slot, a vane secured to the end oi.' s aid one arm and disposed adjacent to said inlet'opening so as to be in the path of air passing therethrough, and a distinctively marked plate carriedby the other of said arms within said structure so as to be visible through said window.

6. The combination with a vacuum cleaner comprising a casing forming a dust receiver having an air inlet and a pervious dust separating member and means for producing flow of air through said casing, of meansior indicating the condition of said dust separating member comprising an air-tight window in said casing, and a signal pivoted within said casing, one end of said signal comprising a vane disposed'so as to be in the path of air passing through said casing and the other end of said signal being disposed so as to be visible through said window.

'7. The combination with a vacuum cleaner including a casing having an air inlet opening, a pervious dust separating member and means for producing flow oi air through said casing and through said dust separating member, of a signal and means for operating said signal including a member pivoted within said casing, one end of the pivoted member being disposed in the path of air passing through said casing whereby said pivoted member is adapted to be moved by the current of air. 1

TORD ERIK DANIEL BILDE. 

